Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Stage 1 & Stage 2

[Mal evolent]

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Stage 1 & Stage 2

This post is a companion to Chapter 1. You need to read both to get the full benefit of either.
The rest of the automotive industry uses a concept called Stage 1, Stage 2, et cetera. for some reason bajaistas don't. I am going to start the practice right here and now.

Why:

• you need to know what you plan to do down the road before you buy the car to do it to.
  
• you need to know what your budget will be
  
• you need to know what skills you need and what tools and materials you require
  

Stage 1: the kind of car a person who is acquiring mechanical and fabrication skills can put together by himself. If you modify a car with reversible bolt on mods, you have built a Stage 1 car. Not possible with a Baja bug because you have to cut things off to put the baja kit on. A Stage 1 car as described here can be built one inexpensive weekend project at a time and driven between projects

• mostly stock, mostly street driven. practical, by baja standards.
  
• no weld body modifications: your standard 7 piece fiberglass kit
  
• suspension raised but not modified for more travel
  
• stock fuel tank in stock location.
  
• optional 3" body lift
  
• optional roll cage in interior only. not tied to the suspension
  

Stage 2: Stage 2 involves fabrication skills and irreversible modifications. Stage 2 requires a shop, and months of down time, and a plan.

• the roll cage is a core component of a stage 2 car
  
• the suspension is tied to the cage.
  
• interior stripped, heating system AWOL
  
• suspension lifted, widened and modified for more travel
  
• creature comforts sacrificed for off road ability
  
• A jumble of parts from many souces. Some parts require engineering skills to integrate them into the design
  
• months of research, months of fabrication
  

A Super Beetle would not make a good candidate for a Stage 1 car, but it would be fine for a Stage 2 car. Cutting off the Mcpherson strut front end and attaching a linkpin front beam to the roll bar is the sort of major job that defines a Stage 2 car.

The Stage 1 car:

The ideal candidate for the Stage 1 car is a '69 up standard beetle. The superior handling and safety of the IRS rear suspension is critical. the limitations imposed by the ball joint front suspension do not over ride the advantages of IRS. You can modify the ball joint front end to eliminate the problem of the lower ball joint disassembling itself. Not a thing you can do about the evils of the swingarm.

To make the base car a Stage 1 Baja:

• Install the Baja fiberglass
  
• remove the front sway bar
  
• install Baja front and rear bumpers
  
• install an off road exhaust
  
• option: raise the suspension
  

Any of these can be done in a weekend if you just turn off the TV.

Stage 2 car:

It doesn't matter much what you use for a base car because you will modify so many things that it becomes a cross between a Heinz 57 and a Kludge.

• find a shop and put it on jack stands
  
• remove the body
  
• strip the pan and make any necessary repairs
  
• hack the body for the one piece front end
  
• decide how much you need to push the linkpin beam forward
  
• build an extension for the roll cage to push the linkpin beam forward...
  

you will be spending every weekend, evening and holiday working on this car for a very long time.

Considering Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 together:

If you are going to build a Stage 1 car you are not planning to build a fast car with major ground clearance and stupendous suspension travel. You are planning on making minor changes over a short period of time and driving at moderate speeds on fire roads and irrigation ditch banks. You may use the car as a daily driver. Start with a solid '69- up IRS car.

The Stage 2 car:

You have already built a Stage 1 car, which may be the one you are redoing as a Stage 2 car. You have have serious fabrication skills. You are The Most Interesting Man in the Garage.

Doesn't much matter what you start with.

If you are reading Baja bugs for Volkswagen virgins and don't know everything said in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 already, you may be in over your head building a Stage 2 car.

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index
_________________
73 Beetle Baja, Ghia front brakes, Type 3 rear brakes, 2220 ( 94 X 80 ), Weber Progressive, Bosch SVDA, '97 Mustang seats

Baja Bugs for Volkswagen Virgins: Index

[joescoolcustoms]

[The Phil]

This is absolutely a wonderful thread.

Thanks again for taking the time and going through this for us. It's really appreciated.
_________________
"In case I don't see you, good afternoon , good evening, and goodnight."

My '66 Baja Build Page http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=456365

Free from the evils of facebook Dec 2012. No other Social Media.

[Adventurer]

I look forward to see if there will be more installments,

I can see how useful these threads would be to a "New to VW" person.
(I could have used this info when i started)

I think these threads should end up in the "FAQ, Information, References, PLEASE READ FIRST" sticky.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=123315
_________________
1972 Standard Beetle 1600dp Class 11 Look-alike....SOLD !

IVVW member

[Mal evolent]

[JonF]

mal might edit your 1st post to include a link to your 1st thread to read.
_________________
68 bug 1600sp 30/31
68 baja 1600sp 010 32ndix

[bhart724]

i can vouch for this thread.. i became a member today and a few short hours later mal pointed me in this direction. its been very beneficial. and thx again mal.

[67mobbug]

To create a 67 to essentially a stage1 baja I bought these coilovers that are stock size from jbugs same price as gas, I think those would give me enough clearence because they are adjustable aswell, but wih stock rear and front height be good enough for larger rear tires?

[ORANGECRUSHer]

[Vanapplebomb]